Film repair tool



Apr. 3, 192?;

I 1,450,795 R. c. DOHE FILM REPAIR TOOL Filed July 14, 1921 wa A r. 3,1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application fled July 14, 1981. Serial 1C0. 484,057.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that Rosanna C. Dons, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residin at Okeene, in the county of Blaine and gtate ofOklahoma, has invented new and useful Improvements in Film-Re air Tools,of which the following is a speci cation.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efiicient means forrepairing movlng picture films when the sprocket openings thereof becomecracked or broken in the operation of displaying the same.

It is a common experience in the mov- 16 ing picture industry that aftera film has been used or exhibited a few times certain of the sprocketopenings therein by which th feedin of the film is accomplished becomemuti ated to some extent, the celluloid crackin toward the edges of thefilm and finally breaking loose with the result that the projecting edes at the break interfere with the proper feeding movements of the filmand therefore it is the common practice at the film exchange depots toemploy inspectors to examine the films in the inter-- vals between theuse thereof or prior to issuing the same to examine the films and trimthem by removing the projecting edges at the broken sprocket openings,usually by means of shears or scissors, with the result that unlessgreat care is exercised the adjacent sprocket openings are weakened orinjured and as a consequence a further break is rendered possible andeven likely, and theultimate utilit of the film is impairedunnecessarily. Il: is therefore the object of the invention to provide ameans for removing the rough edges or projectin portions incident to thebreaking out o? the sprocket openings, which appears to be unavoidableby reason of the strain applied by the sprocket wheels of the machine tothe celluloid, and the relative brittleness of the lat- 46 ter, so as toadapt the film to feed freely! through the projector without thepossibility of catching the guides or sprockets, and to accomplish thisobject without the risk of injuring the adjacent sprocket openings, andhence without detracting from the durability of the film.

With this object in view the invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts of which a preferred embodiment 13 shown in theaccompanying drawings,

wherein Fi re 1 is a side view of a tool embodymg? e invention.

gure 2 is an end view of the same. F1gures 3 and 4 are plan viewsrespectively of the facing jaws of the tool.

Figure 5 is a view of a portion of a film.

The tool consists essentially of a pair of pivotally connected handles10 having jaws 11 and 12 of which the former carries a knife 13 whilethe latter is provided with a complemental socket 1 1, said knife andsocket corresponding in contour and operating as die members to the endthat when brought into operative relation they serve to remove a portionof an interposed film corresponding in contour therewith. The socketcarrying jaw is also provided with a positioning stud 15 adapted to fitin the inner end of a broken or mutilated sprocket opening of the filmwith the object of properly positioning the jaws of the tool withrelation to the broken sprocket and with the proper openings in theadjacent sprocket openings of the film and also carried by the jaw 12 ofthe tool is a guide flange 16, preferably divided as shown with portionsthereof arran ed at opposite sides of the die members ant? adapted to beplaced in contact with the ed e of the film to limit the depth of thecut ormed in the film and thus constitute what may for convenience betermed a depth gage.

In Figure 5 there is shown a. section of a film wherein at ,17 there areillustrated sprocket openings of normal size and position while at 18are shown openings which indicate signs of breakage or injury by finecracks leading from the openings toward the edge or margin of the filmand which by reason of such cracks are liable to become broken out inthe use of the film. Also at 18 there are shown sprocket openings whichhave become definitely mutilated by the breaking of the marginal portionof the film with resultant projecting edges which as above explained areliable to catch in the guides of the projector and interfere with theprogressive movement of the .film, while at 19 there is shown a repairproduced by a tool constructed in accordance with the invention merelyby applying the jaws with the guide stud 15 at the inner end of thesprocket opening 20 and closing the jaws so as to cut away the looseportions of the celluloid and leave rounded edges 21 Without in any waydetracting from the strength or serving to weaken the adjacent sprocketopenings.

The trimming of the film with relation to each sprocket opening canbeeffected in one operation of the tool and without the exercise ofspecial care other than to position the guide stud in the brokensprocket opening. The closing of the jaws when the tool is properlypositioned, which must be if the stud is inserted in the broken sprocketopening, results in the cutting away of the surplus material and leavingrounded edges which freely pass through the guides of the proj ector andpermit of the use of the film with the same facility as prior to anyinjury to the same.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful isj 1. A tool for re airing moving picture films having pivotallyconnected jaws carrying complemental die members for removing theportions of a film adjacent to a broken sprocket opening thereof to formoutwardly divergent free edges, one of said jaws carrymg a positioningstud for engagement with the mutilated sprocket opening of the film.

2. A tool for repairing moving picture films havingpivotally connectedjaws carrying complemental die members for removing the portions of afilm adjacent to a broken sprocket opening thereof to form outwardlydivergent free edges, one of said jaws carrying a positioning stud forengagement with the mutilated sprocket opening of the film, and a depthgauge for contact with the marginal edge of the film.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

RUSSELL C. DOHE.

